Easter is almost here. I told Mylo that we were going to get him an Easter Basket. He looked at me as if he understood… It is a chilly Holy Saturday. I remember more cool Easters than warm ones. The campus was alive with the beautiful blooming trees of spring. Also, there were many young and some who were not so young attendees of the Comic-Con that is being held in the Student Center today. I saw all manner of superheroes and goblins. The crowd had smiles from ear to ear as they admired each other’s costumes.

Easter was a mixture of elements to me as a youngster growing up in Eldorado. I completely enjoyed receiving an Easter Basket each year. I was amazed that so many good and exciting things could be contained in one basket. Hunting Easter Eggs was fun…although I was never very good at it…I enjoyed trying. There was an Easter movie at the Orpheum Theatre and one of the most enjoyable that I saw was The Ten Commandments. Charlton Hestons’ portrayal of Moses was compelling. The movie placed an affection for the Hebrew people in my heart. Watching the vivid Technicolor majesty of the extrication of the Hebrews from Pharoh’s cruel slavery of them…was inspiring. I considered that I would want to follow such a God as the miracle worker of the Old Testament. After all…Moses held out his staff and the Red Sea parted…

The wonderfully illustrated Bible Story Books that I read…primarily in doctor’s offices…had the most lovely pictures of Easter and the Resurrection of Christ. When I read the story and looked at the photos…I felt at peace. Faith has been a part of my life for 53 of my 64 years. I am a bit private regarding my faith…I have always believed that a person’s faith should be seen… Recently a good friend told MJ and me that he had not known any ‘very religious people.’ We later deduced that he meant he did not know any outwardly verbal proclaimers of the beauty of the Christian life.

Christ made the terrible walk to Calvary’s Hill. He suffered and bled and wore thorns for a crown. He was mocked…and he died…’Jesus ‘cried with a loud voice’ right before he died ‘And the Centurian…saw that he so cried out [with a loud voice] he said, ‘Truly this man was the Son of God.’

Christianity is a daily life event. It brings peace. It provides a new perspective on daily struggles and joys. It brings hope for tomorrow…and love for all of Gods’ Creatures… Faith is a bit like a new set of clothes. Some wear it easily…while others feel the need to demand that you wear the same clothes as they are…

Billy B. was excited about today being Good Friday. Neva J. had told him of the significance of the day and he was a bit overwhelmed. He had recently watched the Cecille B. DeMille film, The Ten Commandments with the famous actor Charlton Heston portraying Moses. Billy B. was so fascinated by the miracles that God performed through the Shepherds Staff that Moses carried with him each time that he confronted Pharoh. Billy B. discovered a long stick that somewhat resembled Moses Staff. He carried it with him all over Eldorado.

Hillcrest Grade School was on holiday in observance of Good Friday. Prior to the holiday, on Thursday, there had been an Easter Egg Hunt and the Easter Bunny was the master of ceremonies. Chet had won the Contest by finding the most pastel-colored eggs. Jane had come in a strong second place…but she had spent half of her searching time assisting Chet…who had a weak vision. Daryl and his dad, The Wiz, both were laughing heartily when someone asked them who was dressed like EB. The Wiz replied, ‘Why do you ask…EB is himself…and I brought him here today to make the festivities more enjoyable.’ Beside EB was Peter Rabbit. Peter suggested to Billy B. that Easter would never be complete without a Magical Journey. When Billy B. asked, ‘Where shall we go…and can I take my Staff with me?’ PR said that of course, he could take his Moses Staff with him and that the easiest way to travel was to follow him down his favorite Rabbit Hole. Then…with a wink and a nod…down the Rabbit Hole went PR, leading the way, and Billy B. and Chet and Jane and Daryl and The Wiz.

Suddenly the intrepid travelers were in a large crowd of angry people. Many cried, ‘Crucify Him!, and then they saw a poor man walk by…who was almost bent double with the weight of the cross that he bore on his back. His head had a hat made of thorns and the blood from the many wounds ran down his face and clouded his eyes. A kind man from the crowd stepped forward and said that he would carry the heavy cross…and Billy B. and Chet and Jane and Daryl and The Wiz…joined him and grabbed hold of it on either side to help lift the terrible burden… The horrendously injured man looked up at them…and smiled the most loving smile that any of them had ever seen…

‘Grandma…could you tell me more about the Crucifixion,’ asked Billy B.?

It is a lovely Maundy Thursday. This is the date of the Last Supper in the Western World. ‘Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve. And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord is it I? And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me.’ Matthew 26: 20 – 23. KJV

Indeed…we need the hope that Easter brings. The great movie, Oh Brother Whereout Thou, had a haunting song…I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrows.’ At times life can feel that way for each of us. A Pandemic that just will not quit…and terrible war in Ukraine…and the economic stresses of inflation. All of these maladies are on top of the normal valleys of life.

Jesus took Judas everywhere with him and treated him no differently than the other eleven disciples. He treated him with love… Christ did not require the modern, ‘John Wayne Gospel,’ he lived it by exhibiting outstanding strength of character and living the message that he preached. Christians believe that Jesus was born of Mary and that he was both God and man. How many of our modern-day political/Christian members of the amalgamation of their hybrid religion…treat their enemies with such Christian Charity? When Jesus woke up each morning…there was Judas smiling at him and telling him how great he was. When Christ was hungry…there was Judas who brought him food. When the disciples enjoyed a moment of mirth and laughter…there was Judas laughing heartily. When Jesus was cold…there was Judas covering The Son Of Man…with a blanket. Then Judas told Jesus’ captors that the person that he kissed on the cheek…’Hold him fast…’

We Christians want our recognition that we are the faithful and the followers of Christ. We wonder if others have observed our piety and our dedication and our love for our fellow man? We proclaim that if we had been in the crowd that shouted to Crucify Christ…we would have stood up…alone and said…No…

Jonathon wears birthdays well. I stopped counting the Happy Birthday wishes that he has received. I have heard it said that if a person wants to have friends…they must show themselves friendly. This adage certainly applies to Jonathon. We traveled to Paducah, Kentucky for the Grand Birthday Dinner at the Freight House. We were delighted with our choices. Prior to that, we visited with Char and Jay at the Pinecone Studios in Lowertown. We received such a warm welcome that it made our day. Char is a tremendous artist and we had a couple of her works that we purchased several years ago…now we have another.

Etcetera Coffee Shop makes wonderful coffee! I had forgotten how delicious that it is…until Saturday. During the first decade of our new century…we visited the Coffee Shop each time that we were in Lowertown…and that was on a regular basis. One visit to Lowertown was during the Christmas Season and we enjoyed a Sleigh Ride with Jay dressed as Santa Claus and our friend, Nancy, who is a skilled and compelling artist, with us. The event seemed dreamlike and we were hooked on the Artistic Community @ Lowertown.

Jonathon had one of his plethora of friends invite him for dinner on his birthday and she baked him a cake. Aaron joined the festivities and the photos tell a happy story.

Delight possesses me as I contemplate another journey to my boyhood home of Eldorado. Our taxes are finished and we must drive to Saline County to sign them…due to the slowness of the mail and the lateness of the hour. I wonder how my hometown almost never entered my mind when I was in the height of my revelries and working many 16 hour days… Now the stories of my youth occur to me on a regular basis.

Eldorado seemed large to me when I was living there 47 years ago. It appeared to me that there were so many people that I could never know them all. Mom and I lived on West Street in a little red house that Aunt Guelda rented to us. I remember that we were sick with the flu, on one occasion, and Guelda brought us Seven-Up Soda Pop for our weak stomachs. Guelda was moms’ half-sister…different father…and she had lived for many years in St. Louis, Missouri. Gueldas’ first husband was named Lou, and he was a Jewish businessman who knew many famous and prominent people. Guelda told me that she had met both the singer and actor, Bing Crosby, and the Comedian and actor, Bob Hope. I was amazed and asked her to tell me more about them. She replied that they were nothing special…just men…they put their pants on one leg at a time… Mom spoke often of her sister Guelda. She and Guelda had an age gap of over 20 years with mom being the younger sister. According to mom, Guelda was glamorous. She wore furs stoles and expensive dresses and seemed so urbane compared to her country sister.

Eldorado had a plethora of thriving little businesses in the 60s. I visited the Ben Franklin Dime Store on a weekly and sometimes a daily basis. The Dime Store had a little bit of everything. There was a kind gentleman who worked there who looked to be middle-aged. I believe that he spent his carer in the Ben Franklin…as many people who worked in retail stores did in those days. My clothes came from the P.N. Hirsch Department store. They were moderately priced…but not as cheap as the clothing from the Brokerage…in Harrisburgh. Cousin Freds moved into Eldorado…and it was a big deal. The Cousin was a smaller version of Wal-Mart…which did not exist in our town…or perhaps anywhere but Arkansas…at that time.

Christmas was a grand event in Eldorado. The town Christmas lights were stretched across the main street and fastened to light poles on either side of the avenue… and were quite resplendent. The Orpheum Theatre had a Christmas movie that was sponsored by the Lions’ Club and all of us kids received a large Christmas Basket which contained all manner of Christmas Candy and even a Soaky Bubble Bath. Soaky came in bottles that were in the shape of popular cartoon and movie characters. Soaky made bath time…fun. The bottles included; Rocky The Flying Squirrel and his buddy…Bullwinkle Moose. Also, there was a great representation of the Universal Studios Monsters such as; The Creature From The Black Lagoon and Frankenstein.

Life was deliberate and slow in Eldorado. I sold Grit Newspapers for a time. Grit was a popular Weekly in those days and somewhat like todays’ USA Today…but with more rural news. Earl, my stepfather, loved to drive to the various supermarkets on Route #45 and purchase a Jelly Roll and the daily or weekly newspapers. He did this faithfully each evening. Among the papers was the National Enquirer and often The Star newspapers. The common headlines were regarding Aliens From Outer Space being captured and…’Woman Gives Birth To 30 Pound Baby.’ Or as mom often recounted a fantastic story to me and then qualified its’ veracity by noting that she had read the account in the Enquirer…

Billy B. was excited about the soon arrival of Easter. He did enjoy a chocolate Easter Bunny…the solid kind…and of the milk chocolate variation. He and Chet and Jane and Daryl were going to hide Easter Eggs at Karel Park. It promised to be a nice spring day and the adventure of just going to Karel Park coupled with the mystery of hiding Easter Eggs…was almost too much to bear. Billy B. believed in the Easter Bunny…although his aunts had told him during the winter that EB did not exist and that neither did Santa Claus. He was quite certain that they were full of prunes and discounted their laughter when they heard from Neva J. that Billy B. was a believer. Why Billy B. had even had a visit from Santa to his house on West Street and he knew that both he and EB were very much real and alive and ready to provide fun and suspense to the holidays.

Neva J. with the assistance of Billy B.’s cousin, Brenda, was explaining the rules of the Hunt. There were 10 eggs hidden in the north and 10 eggs hidden in the south and 10 in the east and 10 in the west of the Park. The first to find all 10 of the eggs in their section would receive a $25 Savings Bond…as Savings Bonds were big in Billy B.’s childhood…and a massive Easter Basket with a Solid Milk Chocolate Bunny in it. Besides the Basket and Bond, there would be a $10 Orpheum Theatre Coupon good for 10 visits to the Movies. This was golden to Billy B. and he was determined to be the winner!

Billy B. chose the Karel Park Creek as his Easter Egg Hunt destination and he walked quickly, as he never ran, to the shady and secluded area. As Billy B. looked in the cool semi-light of an ancient oak tree adjacent to the water he heard a whisper asking, ‘Hey Billy B…what are you looking for?’ Billy B. looked up to see a Rabbit that was dressed in a smart light blue jacket and carrying a massive bright orange carrot in his hand…and who was wearing a wide and mischievous grin on his face. ‘Are you Peter Rabbit,’ asked Billy B.? ‘I most certainly am and I am here to help you find the eggs that your mother and Brenda hid,’ answered Peter. ‘Do you know EB,’ asked Billy B.? ‘I not only know him…I am substituting for him this Easter while he is vacationing in Miramar Beach, Florida. ‘EB told me that you are a true believer and that he wanted you to receive special EB treatment, ‘ laughed Peter. PR went on to say that EB had been dismayed and disheartened that more and more kids were ceasing to believe in him and that their lives had become less interesting and fanciful and that the joy of childhood was being robbed from them. PR motioned for Billy B. to follow him deeper into Karel Park and soon Billy B. did not recognize the geography of the Park. ‘Where are we PR,’ asked Billy B.? PR whisked around to stare at Billy B. and winked and jumped down a rabbit hole. Chet was suddenly behind Billy B. and exclaimed that they should follow PR and see where the Rabbit Hole led to…

Chet and Billy B. stood in Grandma Askew’s house surrounded by Aunt Guelda and Aunt Wanda and Aunt Vema…and beside them stood Peter Rabbit…

‘Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried out: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.’ John 12:13. KJV

This Saturday before Palm Sunday and the beginning of Holy Week is a beautiful day in my neck of the woods. It is time for Jonathons’ Birthday Dinner and we are traveling to Paducah, Kentucky for the special event. The Freight House has quickly become one of our favorite restaurants. A little perusal through the artistic shops nearby…is just the ticket for a lovely afternoon.

Our heartfelt proclamations, at the time of their utterance, are powerful words that seem that they will by virtue of their Herculean Rhetoric… guarantee that their prophecy will come to pass. Some of the people who cast palm fronds in front of the Christ…a few days later cried out to Pilate…’Give us Barabas,’ and allowed the Messiah of a week ago…to be crucified.

A long-term dedication to a cause is not for the faint of heart. Many days inspiration hides from us in a game of, Hide and Seek. The Group Think of our peers tends to change our convictions in order that we will not stand out…or incur the wrath of them. This phenomenon seems to permeate some of our political/religious discourse whereby those who do not agree… feign agreement in order to remain in good standing in the Club…

MJ and I were shopping in Barnes and Noble yesterday and MJ picked up a little stuffed lamb to accompany Peter Rabbit. Last night I discovered, Beatrix Potter, The Complete Tales on Kindle for $1.99…and I scooped it up immediately. Easter resonates with me in my later years like at no other time in my life. I marvel at the small items and happenings that inspire me to peace and faith and grace. So often we look for God in the whirlwind or the waves of the ocean or the mighty oratory of a self-anointed preacher… When the still small whisper…that you must listen carefully for…is the voice that you are seeking.

Palm Sunday is three days away and Peter Rabbit is sitting by my computer as I write this blog. Peter has on a smart light blue jacket and is holding in his hand a bright orange carrot. Peter tells me that he is excited that spring has finally come. He noted that it is a little chilly…but that is the way rabbits like it. Peter says that this year has many good things in store for us if we will only seek them out…like he does. Peter goes on to say that our Panedmic had affected the animal kingdom as well and that he had been sad for a long time when he saw so many of his human friends sick and passing on.

‘I have 27 children and 44 grandchildren,’ Peter said. ‘When we gather for Easter…we have a crowd,’ PR noted. He mentioned that Beatrix Potter had written about his mischievousness when he was a youth…but that now he had become an Elder Rabbit…he had settled down quite a bit. Peter says that there is no better time than Easter to begin to appreciate all living creatures more than we humans currently do. ‘When I see humans in my woods…I am happy to visit with them…until they bring out their guns and knives,’ Peter remarked. ‘I lost three kids to hunters…and two grandchildren to humans who killed them for sport,’ intoned PR. ‘You do realize that we animals and especially we rabbits understand much more than you give us credit for,’ PR went on to say. ‘We understand kindness and love…and we feel hurt and pain…and evil intentions,’ PR sighed.

‘Humans hurt each other…for no reason,’ PR whispered. ‘They go to war and maim and kill their own kind…with nothing to gain…and everything to lose,’ said PR. ‘When I think of life…I think of the lives of my kids and grandkids…I want them to enjoy many spring mornings…and have many children…like their old Grandpa, laughed PR. ‘I hope that the Christians will remember the teachings of Jesus…this Easter…and love each other as he loves them…’

Perfect Spring is what I am experiencing as I sit at my table on the Writing Porch. The temperature is not too hot nor is it too cold…it is just right. Mylo is clearly content with the semi-outside vistas of the Screened area. We look toward Holy Week and remember the suffering of Christ at the hands of the religious elite of his day.

Russian President Putin has not been satisfied to wage war against Ukraine in order to regain what he believes is part of Russia…he has slaughtered thousands of Ukrainian civilians in the process. This was done out of a total lack of respect and acknowledgment of the Ukrainians’ humanity. The viciousness of humans toward other humans is unfathomable. Ukrainians are being tortured and raped and killed for sport in an act of genocide.

Forgotten people are all around us. We see them begging on our street corners with handmade signs that explain their financial emergencies. Our homeless shelters are bursting at the seams…but these are not the only forgotten people. There are dilapidated houses in every town in Southern Illinois…I noticed many that had reached a sore condition of lack of repair and maintenance in Eldorado when I visited recently, and often we say…’Surely no one lives there.’ But, there are indeed people that live in these houses. If the children did not receive breakfast and lunch…and at times dinner…at their schools…they would go hungry. The fact that for one of the richest industrialized countries in the world…the United States has a staggering amount of hungry people.

The Slap was the sound that was heard around the world. We all stopped and were shocked and astounded and engaged in philosophical discussions as to who was right and who was wrong. As I watched the event and the resulting debate following. I wondered what the person who is hungry…thought about The Slap…

Focus is essential to any enterprise that we engage in. As the old saying goes, ‘Anything worth doing is worth doing well.’ Our society requires multitasking…which is seldom done well. Thus the pressures of family and work and faith and money and all of the unnecessary minutiae that we place upon ourselves…the Big Picture is often difficult to see. I have heard many friends and colleagues say that they do not know what they would do with themselves if they retired. Yet…these same people have been working toward retirement for a career. When the day of retirement approaches they realize that they have focused on little else than work and the rest of life is a murky mystery.

Faith requires the Big Picture. Churches couch the joys of the afterlife in the physical terms of the congregations’ earthly life. As a child, I heard that when I got to Heaven I was going to live in a mansion that sat beside a street of gold. Many churches teach their parishioners that if they follow the ministers’ teaching and give enough of their hard-earned money to the church that they will become rich in this life…and somehow carry that monetary blessing over into the next life… What of the poor among us who never had the fiscal opportunity to become wealthy…are they not equally blessed?

Easter is coming. We will celebrate the resurrection of an itinerate Jewish prophet that seemed to have very little earthly wealth or for the most part recognition by the wealthy or the religious elite of his day. We Christians celebrate Jesus as the Son of God and the Messiah that the Old Testament prophesies…however his outward appearance did not signify the brilliant radiance of his position.

‘And Jesus said to him, Foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man hath not where to lay his head.’ Luke 9:58. KJV

First appearances are important. Often our lasting opinion of someone that we first meet…is formulated during that first meeting. May we never need to tell others that we are followers of Christ…may they see it by our lives…